Bonus award system for vending machines



1966 E. J. MEIXNER ETAL 3,

BONUS AWARD SYSTEM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed Oct. 18, 1965 BAS INVENTOREDWIN J. ME/XNEI? CARL -J. ANDERSON United States Patent O Thisinvention relates to a bonus award system for a vending installation andmore particularly to a bonus award system especially designed for use invending installations (such as a coin-operated automatic phonograph) andadapted to afford a customer an opportunity to purchase, under certainpredetermined conditions, a

selection available from the vending installation as a bargain pricedaward.

As is well known, automated vending installations have become asignificant factor in retail merchandising of articles (e.g., candybars) and of services (e. g., the playing of recorded music). However, adisadvantage of such installations has been their relative inflexibilityfor utilizing proven merchandising techniques based upon award andbargain concepts. To an extent, bargain merchandising has been used inthe vending business (as, for example, by offering a single selectionrecord play for ten cents and three single selection record plays fortwenty-five cents in a coin-operated automatic phonograph), and such usehas been highly successful.

In addition, a copending United States patent application, Scan AwardSystem, Serial No. 381,715, filed July 10, 1964, in the name of HermanG. Jensen and Robert Kapoun, discloses a system suitable for utilizationin an automated vending installation and adapted to vend awardselections under certain predetermined conditions. The preferredembodiment of the system described in the said copending patentapplication is a coin-operated automatic phonograph installation inwhich a customer, after purchase of an ordinary record selection at aregular price, is given an opportunity to purchase a predetermined oneof a series of album award selections at a bargain price. The availablealbum award selection is determined by scan means which normally scans aseries of album award selections and which, in response to the ordinarypurchase, ul-thnately conditions the award of a predetermined (althoughapparently random) one of the series of album award selections.

While in practice the use of such a scan award system has proven to behighly successful, one inherent limitation thereof is the lack ofcustomer choice as to the particular award selection that is availablefor purchase at a bargain price. Since the predetermined available awardselection may be a selection which the customer does not desire topurchase (even at a bargain price), customer acceptance of the bargainpriced award is not maximized. Moreover, the circuitry necessary toincorporate the described scan award system into an automatic phonographinstallation is relatively complex and, as such, can be employed only inconnection with main phonograph installations (i.e., the system cannotnormally be utilized in remote or satellite stations).

In accordance with the present invention, a bonus award system, which issuitable for use in a vending installation and which permits maximumeffective use of bargain and award concepts, is provided. The bonusaward system is adapted, upon completion of a regular sale of a vendibleselection, to permit a customer to purchase, within a predeterminedtime, a selection available from the installation as a bargain pricedaward. Briefly, the bonus award system comprises: first systemconditioning means adapted, in response to the completion of a regularsale of a vendible selection, to condition the system for an award saleof a vendible selection; credit responsive means adapted for activationupon the establishment of award credit; second system conditioning meansadapted, in response to activation of the credit responsive means whilethe system is conditioned for an award sale, to condition the system torcustomer desigq nation ocfi an award selection; designation responsivemeans adapted for activation upon customer designation of an awardselection; and vend means adapted to cause the designated selection tobe vended as an award upon activation of the designation means while thesystem is conditioned for award selection designation.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a bonus awardsystem for a vending installation adapted to permit a customer, afterthe completion of a regular sale of a vendible selection, to purchase,within a predetermined time and as an award selection, an availablevendible selection of his choice.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bonus awardsystem of the character described wherein the award selection isavailable to the customer at a bargain price.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and uniquesystem for utilizing bargain and award concepts in connection withvending installation merchandising.

A still further object is to provide a system of the character describedthat is easy to fabricate, relatively simple to incorporate in standardautomatic vending installa tions, and which is so compact that it can besuccessfully employed in vending installations embodying a central ormain vending unit and a plurality of remote vending stations.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system forutilizing bargain and award concepts in a coin-operated automaticphonograph installation which, during the rendition of a purchased awardselection, does not impair the normal itunctioning of the system (i.e.,regular purchases may be made), in order that the income of the systemmay be maximized.

These and other objects, advantages, and features of the subjectinvention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration, butnot of limitation, an exemplary embodiment of. the present invention isshown in the accompanying drawing, which is a schematic circuit diagramof an exemplary bonus award system produced in accordance with thesubject invention.

In a preferred embodiment, the bonus award system of the presentinvention physically embodies certain electromechanical elements whichare employed in combination with the existing credit mechanism of avending installation. For example, where the bonus award system is to beutilized in a coin-operated automatic phonograph vending installation,the bonus award system elements may be employed in conjunction with acredit mechanism such as that described and claimed in Kie'fer, et. al.,United States Patent No. 3,156,339, patented November 10, 1964.

In operation, the elements of the bonus award system simply serve tomodify the credit mechanism insofar as is necessary to make an awardselection available to the customer for a predetermined limited timefollowing the completion of a regular purchase. Moreover, the elementsof the bonus award system only impair the normal operation of thevending installation during the predetermined limited time period whenthe bargain purchase is available to the customer. After a customer haspurchased an award selection, the installation is restored to its normaloperative mode and other customers may make regular purchases. Thus, theopportunity for maximization of income from the vending installation dueto override (i.e., the laying of a given o ular selection once only inresponse to several difie'rent customers depositing the purchase priceand designating the given Selection) is increased.

The preferred environment for the system of the present invention is acoin-operated automatic phonograph vending installation, and theembodiment described here= in is illustrative of the system of thepresent invention in such an environment. However, the system can easilybe employed in any vending installation.

A coin-operated automatic phonograph vending irrstallation typically oifers a relatively large number (e.g., 50) of selections. In making aregular purchase, the customer designates one of the availableselections. Inaccordance with the present invention, the customer isgiven an opportunity, after completion of a sale of a selection at aregular price, to purchase a selection of his own choice at a bargainprice. If the phonograph vending installation oflers album selections aswell as single play selections, the system may be arranged to afford acustomer, in response to a regular purchase of a single play selection,an opportunity to purchase an album selection at a bargain price. Ofcourse, as will be obvious to one skilled in the art, the system couldalso be arranged so that both single play and album selections areavailable for bar-gain purchase.

With reference to the drawing, the circuitry elements of a bonus awardsystem BAS are provided in combination with a credit mechanism CM(partially and schematically shown in the drawing) of a typical vendinginstallation. Only those arts of the credit mechanism CM necessary to acomplete understanding of the operation of the bonus award system BASare illustrated.

The credit mechanism CM functions in the following manner as a regular(i.e., non-award) selection is purchased. A pair of normally openedswitches CMSl, CMS2 in the credit mechanism CM are adapted to close whensufficient credit is established (as by a customer depositing coins inthe vending installation) for the sale of an available selection. Theclosure of switch CMSl is adapted to illuminate a select lamp SL inorder to visually indi- Cate to the customer that he may designate oneof the available selections as the selection that he desires to bevended to him. A lead L1 connects an A.C. power source P and a terminalT1, and terminal T1 is connected to a terminal T2 by means of a lead L2.Terminal T2 is connected to a terminal T3 by means of switch CMSl and alead L3. Lamp SL is connected to ground. Thus, when switch CMSl isclosed (in response to the establishment of credit), lamp SL isilluminated, and the visual signaling function is accomplished.

The closure of switch CMS2 in response to the establishment of credit isadapted to condition the unit to vend the designated selection. TerminalT2 (which is a power terminal) is connected to a terminal T by switchCMS2 and a lead L4. A normal-1y opened selection designation switchSS isconnected in series with a vend relay VR3 between terminals T5 and T4.The closing of switches CMS2 and SS results in the energization of relayVR3, since a circuit can be traced from power terminal T2 through relayVR3 to ground. Thus, the closing of switch CMS2 conditions relay VR3 forenergization when switch SS closes.

A normally closed vend relay switch VRSl and 21 normally opened vendrelay switch VRS2 are controlled by vend relay VR3. The closing ofswitch VRS2 is adapted to complete a conventional write-in selectioncircuit WS whereby the selection designated by the customer (in a mannerhereinafter described) is caused to be vended.

Selection designation switch SS is provided so that relay VR3 is notenergized (and thus, switch VRS2 is not closed) until the customer hasdesignated the particular selection he desires to purchase. Switch SS isadapted to close upon the designation by the customer of any of theavailable selections in the vending installation and thus the closing ofswitch SS (resulting in the energization of relay VR3 and the closing ofswitch VRS2) causes the particular selection designated by the 1customer to be vended to the customer.

As the selection is vended, the credit mechanism CM is adapted tofunction in a conventional manner to remove the established credit inorder that switches CMSl, CMS2 may return to their normal openedpositions. The opening of switch CMS1 results in lamp SL beingextinguished, and the opening of switch CMS2 de-energ'izes relay VR3 andthus the write-in circuit WS is broken.

The bonus award system BAS includes system conditioning means adapted,in response to the completion of a regular sale of a vendible selection,to condition the system for an award sale of a vendible selection. Powerstorage means, in the form of a capacitor C1, is provided in order tostore power upon the establishment of credit. A terminal T6 is connectedto an A.C. power source P, and a lead L5 is connected between terminalT6 and a terminal T7. A diode D is provided between terminal T7 and aterminal T8, and a normally opened credit switch CS1 and a resistor R1are connected in series between terminal T8 and a terminal T9. CapacitorC1 is normally connected between terminal T9 and ground by means of alead L6, a normally closed sale conditioning relay switch SRS4, a leadL7, and a terminal T10. Switch CSlcloses whenever credit is establishedin the credit mechanism CM and opens after credit has been completelyremoved. Thus, so long as switch SRS4 is closed, the closing of switchCS1 (i.e., in response to credit establishment) causes a DC. potentialto 'be placed across the plates of capacitor C1 and, thus, capacitor C1is charged.

A sale conditioning relay SR1 is adapted to be energized when credit iscompletely removed (i.e., when switch CS1 closes). Relay SR1 isconnected between a terminal T11 and ground by a lead L8, a normallyclosed thermal switch TS, a terminal T12, a lead L9, a terminal T13, anda lead L10. Terminals T9 and T11 are connected by means of a lead L11, aterminal T14, a normally closed credit switch CS2 and a lead L12. SwitchCS2 opens and closes in response to the establishment and removal ofcredit in the following manner. When credit is established, switch CS2opens, and switch CS2 remains open until credit is completely removed.

With capacitor C1 charged, the removal of credit effects theenergization of relay SR1 in the following manner. When credit iscompletely removed, switch CS1 opens and switch CS2 closes. The closingof switch CS2 completes a circuit from capacitor C1 through relay SR1 toground. Capacitor C1 discharges, and relay SR1 is thereby energized.

The energization of relay SR1 causes a series of sale conditioning relayswitches SRS1-6 to reverse their respective positions. The switches areshown in the drawing in the positions occupied when relay CR1 isdeenergized. Thus, normally opened switches SRS1-3, 5, and 6 close, andnormally closed switch SRS4 opens in response to the energization ofrelay SR1.

The closing of switch SRS1 closes a holding circuit which maintainsrelay SR1 in its energized state after.

switch CS2 reopens. Credit switch CS2 remains closed until some creditis established either by a normal or a. bonus selection. With switchSRS1 closed, a circuit can be traced from terminal T11, through switchSRS1, a lead L13, normally closed switch VRSl, a lead L14, a terminalT15 (which is connected to a grounded terminal T10 by a capacitor C2), aresistor R2, and a lead L15 to power terminal T8. Thus, so long asswitches SRS1 and VRSl are closed, relay SR1 is maintained in anenergized state.

The closing of switch SRS2 is adapted to initiate the operation of athermal relay system TRS which performs a timing function as hereinafterdescribed. With switch SRSZ closed, a circuit can be traced from powerterminal T7 through thermal relay system TRS to ground as follows. Alead L16 connects terminal T7 and switch SRS2, and a lead L17 connectsswitch SRS2 and a normally closed prime credit relay switch PRSI. A leadL18 connects between switch PRSl and a bimetallic resistor BMR inthermal relay system TRS, and a lead L19 connects resistor BMR andground terminal T13. Thus, with switch PRSl closed and switch SRS2closed, current passes through resistor BMR.

After a predetermined time interval of energization for resistor BMR(e.g., thirty to sixty seconds depending upon its particularcharacteristics), resistor BMR is adapted to open circuit the previouslydescribed thermal switch TS (which is normally maintained in a closeddisposition by a permanent magnet, not shown). The opening of switch TScauses relay SR1 to be de-energized since switch TS is provided in thecircuit between relay SR1 and ground. However, if, as will hereinafterbe described in detail, the customer elects to make a purchase of anaward selection, the thermal relay system TRS will be disenabled wherebyrelay SR1 is not de-energized by the thermal relay system TRS.

The closing of switch SRS3 and the concomitant opening of switch SRS4 inresponse to the energization of relay SR1 is adapted to bleed offresidual charge remaining on capacitor C1 and to open the chargingcircuit for capacitor C1. Switch SRS3 is connected in a circuit betweenthe plates of capacitor C1 by means of lead L6, a lead L19, a resistorR3, a lead L20, terminal T14, lead L11, and terminal T9. In this manner,when switch SRS3 closes, residual charge on capacitor C1 is bled offthrough resistor R3. The removal of excess charge from capacitor C1serves to preclude an award purchase being predicated on a prior awardpurchase upon the de-energization of relay SR1. The opening of switchSRS4 serves to open the charging circuit for capacitor C1 so thatcapacitor C1 is not charged if switch CS1 closes while relay SR1 isenergized.

The closing of switch SRSS in response to the energization of relay SR1is adapted to activate a visual signal to indicate to the customer thatthe system is conditioned for the sale of an award selection in thefollowing manner. Power terminal T6 is connected to a terminal T16 by alead L21. An award lamp AL is connected between terminal T16 and switchSRSS by means of a lead L22 and a lead L23, and switch-SRSS is connectedto ground terminal T by means of a lead L24. Thus, the lamp AL isilluminated so long as relay SR1 is energized. As

will be obvious to one skilled in the art, lamp AL can be employed toactivate a message sign in order to indicate to the customer that he maypurchase an available selection of his choice at a bargain price withina predetermined time.

The closing of switch SRS6 in response to the energization of relay SR1is adapted to condition the system for sale of an award selection byconditioning a prime credit relay PR2 for energization upon theestablishment of bargain credit. Thus, terminal T16 is connected withswitch SRS6 by means of a lead L25. A circuit can be traced from switchSRS6 to ground via a lead L26, a normally opened credit switch CS3, alead L27, relay PR2, and a lead L28. Switch CS3 is normally opened andis adapted to be closed upon the establishment of credits correspondingto the bargain purchase price. Thus, with switch SRS6 closed and creditestablished (i.e., with switch CS3 closed), prime credit relay PR2 willbe energized. Switch CS3 reopens when credit is completely removed.

The energization of relay PR2 is adapted to condition the system forcustomer designation of an award selection in the following manner. Aseries of prime credit relay switches PRS1-3 are reversed upon theenergization .of relay PR2. In the drawing, switches PRS1-3 are shown inthe normal positions that they occupied when relay PR2 is de-energized.

The opening of switch PRSl in response to the energi zation of relay PR2serves to disenable the thermal relay system TRS and thus to prevent thepremature de-energization of relay SR1. As previously described, thecircuit for bimetallic resistor BMR (which circuit is initially closedWhen switch SRS2 closes in response to the energization of relay SR1)includes normally closed switch PRSl, which is governed by relay PR2.When relay PR2 is energized (in response to the establishment of awardcredit while relay SR1 is energized), switch PRSl opens, thereby openingthe circuit through resistor BMR and, hence, deactivating the thermalrelay system TRS. Thus, after switch PRSl opens, resistor BMR cannotcause switch TS to open so as to result in the deenergization of relaySR1. However, if the customer does not establish the bargain credit (soas to close switch CS3 and thereby energize relay PR2) within thepredetermined time (determined by the characteristics of resistor BMR),switch TS opens, relay SR1 is de-energized, and switch SRS6 opens. Whenswitch SRS6 opens, the system is no longer conditioned for the sale ofan award selection and, hence, if the customer deposits coins andthereby establishes credit (so as to close switches CS1, CS3) an awardsale is not made, but rather the credit mechanism CM functions as if aregular purchase were intended. Thus, the thermal relay system TRS isadapted to limit the availability of an award sale to a predeterminedtime interval only (as determined by the characteristics of resistorBMR).

The closing of prime credit relay switches PRS2-3 in response to theenergization of relay PR2 conditions the system for customer designationof an award selection in the following manner. Switches PRS2, PRS3 areprovided in a circuit between terminal T1 and terminals T3 and T5. Thiscircuit is parallel to the previously described circuit through switchesCMS1, CMS2. A lead L30 connects terminal T1 and a terminal T17, andterminal T17 is connected with terminal T3 by means of a lead L31,normally opened switch PRS3, and a lead L32. Likewise, terminal T17 isconnected with terminal T5 by means of a lead L33, normally openedswitch PRS2, and a lead L34.

The pair of switches PRS2, PRS3 functions in the same manner as the pairCMS2, CMS1. As previously described, the ciosure of switch CMS1 effectsthe illumination of the album select lamp SL in order to visually signalto the customer that credit has been established and the customer maydesignate an award selection. The closure of relay PRS3 in response tothe energization of relay PR2 accomplishes the same function (i.e., theillumination of lamp SL). The closure of switch CMS2 conditions the vendrelay VR3 for energization upon designation by the customer of aparticular album selection. The closure of switch PRS2 in response tothe energization of relay PR2 performs the same function.

Thus, when relay PR2 is energized, lamp SL is immediately illuminated soas to indicate to the customer that he may take an appropriatedesignation of an available album selection from these available fromthe vending installation. When the selection designation is made, as hasheretofore been described, selection designation switch SS is closed,thereby resulting in the energization of relay VR3 (since switch PRS2 isclosed). The energization of relay VR3 serves to close switch CRS2 so asto complete the write-in selection circuit WS and thence to cause thedesignated selection to be vended to the customer.

The energization of relay VR3 also serves to reverse normally closedswitch VRS1. Since switch VRSI is provided in the holding circuit forrelay SR1, the opening thereof effects the de-energization of relay SR1and thus causes the system to revert to its normal status (ashereinafter described). However, in order that the system does notrevert to its normal status prior to the vending of the designated awardselection, relay VR3 and switches VRSl, VRS2 are arranged so that switchVRS2 closes (so as to complete the write-in circuit WS) prior to theopening of switch VRS1. In this manner, the designated award selectionis caused to be vended prior to the reversion of the bonus award systemBAS to its normal status.

As mentioned, the opening of switch VRS1 opens the holding circuit forrelay SR1 thereby effecting the de-energization thereof and the reversalof relay switches SRS1-6. The opening of switch SRSl in response to thede-energization of relay SR1 reverts the holding circuit for relay SR1to its normal open condition. The opening of switch VRS2 serves to placethe thermal relay system TRS in its normal condition. The closing ofswitch SRS3 (and the concomitant opening of switch SRS4) returns thecircuit for capacitor C1 to its normal arrangement whereby power isstored upon the purchase of a regular selection. The opening of switchSRSS serves to extinguish the visual award signal lamp AL.

The opening of switch SRS6, in cooperation with the opening of switchCS3 (which opens when credit is removed), serves to open the powercircuit for relay PR2. The de-energization of relay PR2 causes switchPRSl to close and switches PRS2, PRS3 to open. The closure of switchPRSl, in cooperation with the opening of switch SRS2, serves to placethe thermal relay system TRS in its normal condition. The opening ofswitch PRS3 open circuits lamp SL (so as to extinguish the visualsignal) and the opening of switch PRS2 de-energizes relay VR3.

The de-energization of relay VR3 causes switch VRSZ to open (therebyopening the write-in selection circuit WS) and switch VRS1 to open so asto revert the holding circuit for relay SR1 to its normal condition.

In this manner, the bonus award system BAS is restored to its normalcondition after completion of an award purchase. Thereafter, if acustomer makes a regular purchase of a selection, the cycle of operationmay be repeated.

In view of the detailed discussion of structure and function for thevarious elements of the bonus award system, a detailed discussion of theoperation thereof is unnecessary. However, the over-all sequence ofoperation may briefly be summarized as follows. When credit isestablished in connection with a regular purchase of a selectionavailable from the vending installation, capacitor C1 is charged.Thereafter, when the established credit is removed, theelectrical energystored in capacitor C1 is used to energize the relay SR1 in order tocondition the system for sale of an available selection as an award. Atthe same time, by means of lamp AL, the customer is signaled that,during a predetermined time interval (as determined by the thermal relaysystem TRS), he may purchase one of the selections available from thevending installation at a bargain price. If the customer does not electto purchase any of the available selections at the bargain price withinthe predetermined time interval, the thermal relay system TRS causes thebonus award system to revert to its rest condition.

However, if the customer establishes award credit in the amount of thebargain price within the predetermined time interval, the system (viathe energization of prime credit relay PR2) is conditioned for thedesignation of an available selection. At the same time, a visual signalis produced so as to indicate to the customer that he may select any oneof the award selections available in the vending installation. Thecustomer then designates an available selection and, via theenergization of relay VR3, the designated selection is caused to bevended. Thereafter, the bonus award system BAS reverts to its restcondition whereby, in response to the completion of a subsequent regularpurchase of an available selection, the subsequent customer is affordedan opportunity to purchase one of the available selections as an awardat a bargain price during a predetermined time interval after thecompletion of the regular purchase.

The regular sale on which the availability of an award sale ispredicated is determined by the characteristics of Likewise, the bargainprice at which an award selection may be purchased is dependent on thecharacteristics of switch CS3. Thus, if it is desired to offer an albumaward selection at half price (i.e., twenty-five cents), the

switch CS3 should be arranged to close upon the establishment oftwenty-five cents in credits. Alternatively, if single play selectionsare to be offered at half price (i.e.,

five cents), switch CS3 should be adapted to close upon theestablishment of five cents in credits.

The award oifered may be an album selection or a regular selection, asdesired, and the particular selection thereof is effected in theconventional write-in selection circuit WS.

An especial advantage of the bonus award system of l the presentinvention is that it permits the benefits that may be derived from anapplication of bargain and award concepts to the coin-operated vendinginstallation art to be maximized. Since the customer has completefreedom of choice with respect to the award selection to be puri chasedat the bargain price (i.e., the customer may designate any one of theselections available from the vending installation), the system would inpractice he more likely to encourage the customer to make the second(award) purchase than, for example, would a system predicated upon arandom award possibility. Furthermore, although the term selection hasbeen used in a singular sense throughout and in most instances vendinginstallations embodying the present invention will permit the customerto purchase only one selection at the reduced price, it will be obviousto one skilled in the art that the bonus award system of the presentinvention could be modified to permit more than one selection to bepurchased at a bargain price in response to the purchase thereof at aregular price. For example, in phonograph vending installations, threesingle-play selections are often available for a price of twenty-fivecents. The system of the present invention could be modified to oflier,as an award, any three singleplay selections for a bargain price offifteen cents. Thus,

as used in the claims, the term selection should be uni derstood also toencompass various combinations of the described type.

It should be emphasized that income in a coin-operated vendinginstallation embodying the system of the present invention is maximizedthrough the operation of principles of override in the following manner.The bonus award system of the present invention modifies the creditmechanism of the vending installation only briefly (only during thatshort interval in which the customer is permitted to make the bargainpurchase and to designate the award selection). Thereafter the systemreverts to its rest condition. Thus, while the selection purchased atthe regular price is being rendered, as well as while the awardselection is being rendered, the system is disposed in its restcondition. The vending installation is thus available for sale offurther selections (which are stored in a memory uni-t in the phonographinstallation and are played in due course in the order of theirselection) while the purchased selections are being rendered. However,should there be a duplication in the selections made by differentpurchasers (as is often the case with popular selections), inconventional practice the given selection is played only once eventhough the purchase price was deposited more than once. It is therendition of a selection once in response to several different salesthat is denoted by the term override. By modifying the credit mechanismof the phonograph installation to the minimum extent involved,principles of override function in the same manner as on a normalphonograph vending installation. Selections (both regular and award)subsequent to the purchased bargain selection and the purchased regularselections may override on the original selections. Thus, the potentialfor deriving revenue from the phonograph vending installation ismaximized.

The bonus award system BAS of the present invention has beenspecifically described with reference to a coin-operated automaticphonograph vending installation. However, it will be obvious to oneskilled in the art that the bonus award system of the present inventioncould easily be adapted for incorporation in other vendinginstallations. For example, in a cigarette vending installation, apurchaser could be offered an opportunity to purchase a second packageof cigarettes at a bargain price during a predetermined time intervalfollowing the completion of a regular purchase of a package ofcigarettes.

It should be understood that the invention set forth herein broadlyembraces the bargain and award concepts described with reference to theoperation of a vending installation. It should further be understoodthat various changes, modifications, and alterations may be effected inthe details and arrangements of the various elements described herein,without departing from the spirit and the scope of the subjectinvention, a defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A bonus award system adapted for use in a vending installationwherein at least one vendible selection is available comprising:

first system conditioning means adapted, in response to the completionof a regular purchase of a vendible selection, to condition the systemfor an award purchase of a vendible selection;

credit responsive means adapted for activation upon the establishment ofaward credit;

second system conditioning means adapted, in response to activation ofthe credit responsive means while the system is conditioned for an awardsale, to condition the system for customer designation of an awardselection;

designation means adapted for activation upon customer designation of anaward selection; and

vend means adapted to cause the designated selection to be vended as anaward upon activation of the designation means while the system isconditioned for award selection designation.

2. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

first signal means responsive to the conditioning of the system for anaward sale, the said first signal means being adapted to signal theavailability of an award sale of a vendible selection; and

second signal means responsive to the conditioning of the system forcustomer designation of an award selection, the said second signal meansbeing adapted to signal that an available selection may be designated.

3. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

timing means adapted to determine the period of time during which thesystem i conditioned for an award sale of a vendible selection,

whereby the system is reconditioned for regular sales of vendibleselections if the credit responsive means is not activated within apredetermined time interval while the system is conditioned for an awardsale.

4. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:

means adapted to recondition the system for regular sales of vendibleselections after the vend means has caused the designated selection tobe vended.

5. A bonus award system adapted for use in a vending installationwherein at least one vendible selection is normally available at a givenprice and wherein at least one award selection is available at a bargainprice comprising: v

first system conditioning means adapted, in response to the completionof a sale of a vendible selection at the given price, to condition thesystem for an award sale of a vendible selection at the bargain price;credit responsive means adapted for activation upon the establishment ofaward credit corresponding to the bargain price;

second system conditioning means adapted, in response to the activationof the credit responsive means while the system is conditioned for anaward sale, to condition the system for customer designation of an awardselection;

designation means adapted for activation upon customer designation of anaward selection; and

vend means adapted to cause the designated selection to be vended as anaward upon activation of the designation means while the system isconditioned for award selection designation.

6. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 5, and

further comprising:

first signal means responsive to the conditioning of the system for anaward sale, the said first signal means being adapted to signal theavailability of an award sale of a vendible selection at a bargainprice; and

second signal means responsive to the conditioning of the system forcustomer designation of an award selection, the said second signal meansbeing adapted to signal that an available selection may be designated.

7. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 5, and

further comprising:

timing means adapted to determine the period of time during which thesystem is conditioned for the award sale of a vendible selection,

whereby the system is reconditioned for regular sales of vendibleselections if the credit responsive means is not activated within apredetermined time interval.

8. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 5, and further comprising:

means adapted to recondition the system for regular sales of vendibleselections after the vent means has caused the designated selection tobe vended.

9. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first systemconditioning means comprises:

power storage means;

charging means responsive to the establishment of credit for chargingthe power storage means;

relay switch means adapted when activated to condition the system for anaward sale of a vendible selection;

relay means responsive to the discharge of the power storage means foractivating the relay switch means; and

means responsive to the removal of credit for discharging the powerstorage means.

10. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 9, and further comprisingmeans associated with the first system conditioning means and adapted todisenable the charging means while the system is conditioned for anaward sale of a vendible selection.

11. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the creditresponsive means includes a normally opened switch adapted for closurein response to the establishment of credit corresponding to the bargainprice.

12. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the secondsystem conditioning means comprises:

a relay adapted for activation in response to the activation of thecredit responsive means while the system is conditioned for an awardsale; and

a normally opened relay switch adapted for closure in response toactivation of the relay.

13. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the designationmeans includes a normally opened switch adapted for closure in responseto the designation by a customer of an available selection.

14. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the vend meanscomprises:

a relay adapted for activation in response to activation of thedesignation means while the system is condi-. tioned for award selectiondesignation; and

a normally opened relay switch adapted for closure in response to theactivation of the relay, the closure of the relay switch being adaptedto activate a write-in selection circuit.

15. A bonus award system adapted for use in a vending installationwherein at least one vendible selection is normally available at a givenprice and wherein award selections are available at a bargin pricecomprising:

power storage means;

charging means responsive to the establishment of credit for chargingthe power storage means;

first relay switch means adapted when activated to condition the systemfor an award sale of a vendible selection;

second relay switch means adapted to disenable the charging means whilethe system is conditioned for an award sale of a vendible selection;

first relay means responsive to the discharge of the power storage meansfor activating the first and second relay switch means;

means responsive to the removal of credit for discharging the powerstorage means;

normally opened credit switch means adapted for closure in response toestablishment of credit corresponding to the bargin price;

third relay switch means adapted when activated to condition the systemfor customer designation of an award selection when the first relayswitch means is activated;

second relay means responsive to the closure of the credit switch meansfor activating the third relay switch means;

normally opened designation switch means adapted for closure in responseto the designation by a customer of an available selection;

third relay means adapted for activation in response to activation ofthe designation switch means while the third relay switch means isactivated;

write-in selection circuit means adapted when activated to cause adesignated selection to be vended; and

normally opened fourth relay switch means adapted for closure inresponse to the activation of the third relay means, the closure of thefourth relay switch means being adapted to activate the write-inselection circuit means.

16. A bonus award system, as claimed in claim 15, and

further comprising:

first signal means responsive to the conditioning of the system for anaward sale, the said first signal means being adapted to signal theavailability of an award sale of a vendible selection; and second signalmeans responsive to the conditioning of the system for customerdesignation of an award selection, the said second signal means beingadapted to signal that an available selection may be designated. 17. Abonus award system, as claimed in claim 15, and further comprising:

timing means adapted to determine the period of time during which thesystem is conditioned for the award sale of a vendible selection,whereby the system is reconditioned for regular sales of vendibleselections if the credit switch means is not closed within apredetermined time interval. 18. A bonus award system, as claimed inclaim 15, and further comprising:

means adapted to recondition the system for regular sales of vendibleselections after the write-in selection circuit means has caused thedesignated selection to be vended.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,042,173 7/1962Thomas et al. l94-15 3,082,853 3/1963 Rockola et al. 194-15 3,131,8005/1964 Osborne et al 19415 X 3,156,339 11/1964 Kiefer et al. 194-15 XSAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

1. A BONUS AWARD SYSTEM ADAPTED FOR USE IN A VENDING INSTALLATIONWHEREIN AT LEAST ONE VENDIBLE SELECTION IS AVAILABLE COMPRISING: FIRSTSYSTEM CONDITIONING MEANS ADAPTED, IN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLETION OF AREGULAR PURCHASE OF A VENDIBLE SELECTION, TO CONDITION THE SYSTEM FOR ANAWARD PURCHASE OF A VENDIBLE SELECTION; CREDIT RESPONSIVE MEANS ADAPTEDFOR ACTIVATION UPON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AWARD CREDIT; SECOND SYSTEMCONDITIONING MEANS ADAPTED, IN RESPONSE TO ACTIVATION OF THE CREDITRESPONSIVE MEANS WHILE THE SYSTEM IS CONDITIONED FOR AN AWARD SALE, TOCONDITION THE SYSTEM FOR CUSTOMER DESIGNATION OF AN AWARD SELECTION;DESIGNATION MEANS ADAPTED FOR ACTIVATION UPON CUSTOMER DESIGNATION OF ANAWARD SELECTION; AND VEND MEANS ADAPTED TO CAUSE THE DESIGNATIONSELECTION TO BE VENDED AS AN AWARD UPON ACTIVATION OF THE DESIGNATIONMEANS WHILE THE SYSTEM IS CONDITIONED FOR AWARD SELECTION DESIGNATION.